the Fourth Week of Advent
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Treasure, Treasury
Holman Bible Dictionary
In Old Testament times treasure might be stored in the king's palace (2 Kings 20:13 ) or in the Temple (1 Kings 7:51 ). In Jesus' day the term also applied to thirteen trumpet-shaped offering receptacles in the Temple court of the women where Jesus watched people make their offerings (Mark 12:41 ). “Treasure” and “treasury” are also used as illustrations or figures of speech. Israel was God's treasure (Exodus 19:5 ). This is reflected in the idea of Christians as God's own people (1 Peter 2:9 ). A person's memory is a treasure (Proverbs 2:1; Proverbs 7:1 ). Fear (awe) of the Lord was Israel's treasure (Isaiah 33:6 ).
Jesus Himself used the term frequently. He contrasted earthly treasures to those of heaven (Matthew 6:19-20 ). What a person treasures or values determines one's loyalty and priorities (Matthew 6:21 ). Paul marveled that the treasure of God's revelation of Himself in Christ had been deposited in an earthen vessel such as Paul himself (2 Corinthians 4:7 ). See Temple.
Elmer Gray
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Treasure, Treasury'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hbd/​t/treasure-treasury.html. 1991.